Flagellin gene, FlaC of Campylobacter

Abstract

Purified and isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided which encode a FlaC flagellin protein of a strain of Campylobacter, particularly C. jejuni, or a fragment or an analog of the FlaC flagellin protein. The nucleic acid molecules may be used to produce proteins free of contaminants derived from bacteria normally containing the FlaA or FlaB proteins for purposes of diagnostics and medical treatment. Furthermore, the nucleic acid molecules, proteins encoded thereby and antibodies raised against the proteins, may be used in the diagnosis of infection.

What we claim is:  
     
       1. A recombinant FlaC protein of a strain of Campylobacter producible by a transformed host cell containing an expression vector adapted for transformation of the host cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule which is selected from the group consisting of: 
       (a) the entire nucleotide sequence set out in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID No: 1), or the complementary sequence of said sequence;  
       (b) the coding nucleotide sequence set out in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID No: 2), or the complementary sequence of said sequence;  
       (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set out in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID No: 3); and  
       (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a flagellin protein C (FlaC) of a flagellin of a strain of Campylobacter and which has at least about 90% sequence identity with any one of the nucleotide sequences defined in (a), (b) or (c), and  
       expression means operatively coupled to the nucleic acid molecule for expression by the host cell of the FlaC protein of a strain of Campylobacter. 
     
     
       2. An isolated and purified FlaC protein of a Campylobacter strain, free from other proteins of the Campylobacter strain. 
     
     
       3. The FlaC protein of  claim 2  wherein said strain of Campylobacter is a  Campylobacter jejuni  strain. 
     
     
       4. An immunogenic composition, comprising at least one active component selected from the group consisting of: 
       (A) a recombinant FlaC protein of a strain of Campylobacter producible in a transformed host cell containing an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule which is selected form the group consisting of:  
       (a) the entire nucleotide sequence set out in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID No: 1), or the complementary sequence of said sequence;  
       (b) the coding nucleotide sequence set out in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID No: 2), or the complementary sequence of said sequence;  
       (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set out in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID No: 3); and  
       (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a flagellin protein C (FlaC) of a flagellin of a strain of Campylobacter and which has at least about 90% sequence identity with any one of the nucleotide sequences defined in (a), (b) or (c), and  
       expression means operatively coupled to the nucleic acid molecule for expression by the host cell of the FlaC protein of a strain of Campylobacter or 
       (B) an isolated and purified FlaC protein of a Campylobacter strain free from other proteins of the Campylobacter strain;  
       and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor, said at least one active component producing an immune response when administered to a host.